Quick-disconnect handle for lifting and carrying large flat planar objects

ABSTRACT

A method of moving a large, flat planar object with a pair of quick-disconnect wide handles attached to an elongated handle rod, to enable a person to quickly lift the large, flat planar object, such as moving plywood panels or table-tops, doors, or other large flat items. The quick-disconnect feature uses a quick disconnect clamp with the addition of an elongated handle and attachment of a rod attachment to it; whereby one such clamp is used at each rod end attaching the handle to the large, flat planar object being carried.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 13/317,337 filed Oct. 14, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to quick disconnect handles for dual handled liftable wheelbarrows and other objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carts and wheelbarrows are well represented in the prior art. Some carts are general purpose, while others are designed for a specific use. Wheelbarrows are used commonly both on the farm as well as the construction site. A stable for the use of horses requires frequent cleaning and moving of used straw from the stalls to a dumping area which can be a dumpster with high sides. Carts with two wheels and a deep bin are often used. Wheelbarrows with one wheel are also used at times for the same purpose to move the used straw. Since the carts and wheelbarrows for stall cleaning service must be emptied in an efficient manner, an auxiliary handle mounted to the bin portion opposite the primary handle or handles is an effective aid in this task.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,350,062 of Mosier shows a four wheel cart with small wheels, a low bin portion, and a front pivoted steering arrangement for the two front wheels. Besides a rod-mounted front pulling handle, a second pushing handle is mounted to the bin at the rear.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,907 of Kelly reveals a separable mortar cart with two attached separate deep bins and a total of six wheels. The intent is to transport a large amount of material substantially filling both bins from a supply point to a distribution point in a unitary configuration by a single worker pushing on either of the handles attached to opposite ends of the composite cart rolling on four large wheels. Upon reaching a distributing point, the cart is separated and each half is handled by one worker using two large wheels and a third smaller wheel that is now permitted to touch the ground. In this manner, the lower weight of one bin would be easily supported by scaffolding. These are heavy duty carts which are not designed for lifting in either separated or unitary configurations by the single or two handles respectively.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,029 of Shaw relates to a portable two-wheeled utility cart with high handles placed at two opposite sides. Besides these high handles extending from the bin ends, a carrying handle or grip is centrally attached to the upper margin of each of the bin ends to lift the cart or to maneuver it into a motor vehicle. With a lower bin and high handles, this cart is unwieldy to tip sideways. The short centrally mounted grips limit the dumping torque that can be applied to the cart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this invention a second quick-disconnect wide handle is attached to the front of a stable wheelbarrow cart to enable two users to quickly lift and dump a full wheelbarrow cart into a raised collection receptacle, such as a dumpster or compost container. This accessory handle is easily removed when not in use. The handle has other uses such as moving plywood panels or table-tops, doors, or other large flat items. The quick-disconnect feature is based on a modification of the well-known QUICK-GRIP® clamp under the IRWIN® brand of Irwin Industrial Tool Company. These quick disconnect clamps feature a ratcheting mechanism which reduces hand force to achieve high clamping pressure; they also include a quick-release lever. The modification involves elongating one handle and attaching a rod attachment to it; one such clamp is used at each rod end attaching the handle to the bin of the wheelbarrow cart.

Two embodiments are presented. The first embodiment is a fixed position handle with a width adjustment. The second embodiment adds an adjustment for rotating the grasped section to adjust its height when mounted to the cart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stable wheelbarrow cart with a quick-disconnect accessory front handle mounted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the quick-disconnect handle of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective detail of the second embodiment of quick-disconnect feature showing the height adjustment feature.

FIG. 4 shows the matching heights of the mounted quick-disconnect handle and the original pushing handle of the wheelbarrow cart.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two grooms dumping a wheelbarrow cart full of used straw into a dumpster wherein the stable wheelbarrow cart is fitted with a quick-disconnect handle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a person grasping a panel of plywood vertically using a quick-disconnect handle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a person moving a tabletop horizontally using a quick-disconnect handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows stable wheelbarrow cart 100 with molded rear handle 5, bin 3, and wheels 7. A quick-disconnect handle 102 is shown attached at the front top of bin 3. FIG. 2 shows various parts of the accessory handle 102. This first embodiment has one modified quick connect/disconnect Irwin type clamp 104 at each end of handle rod 112. Handle rod 112 is in two parts attached with a twist-lock sleeve 114 at its center to facilitate length adjustment. Each clamp 104 has one elongated operating handle 106 with a rod attachment at its distal end. Quick release levers 108 will release clamping pads 110 from wheelbarrow cart bin 3 surface upon squeezing.

FIG. 3 shows the modifications for the second embodiment 120 which permits height adjustment by virtue of the right angle rod extension 126 which can be rotated up or down. Note that elongated handle of each of the clamps 122 ends in a fixed ratchet member. A matching rotatable ratchet member is attached to each end of handle 126; this can be locked in any position of rotation via locking knob 128.

FIG. 4 illustrates the matching heights of quick-disconnect handle 102 and molded rear handle 5 for ease in lifting and dumping.

FIG. 5 shows groom 50 grasping the rear handle 5 while groom 52 grasps handle 102 as used straw is dumped into dumpster 53. FIG. 5 also illustrates the equal height of the rear pushing handle 5 and the grip 112 of handle assembly 102 when handle 102 is at its deployed lifting height. It is this equal height at the level close to the top of bin 3 that is most useful for lifting and dumping. This height also enables the users, such as two grooms 50, 52 at a racetrack, to have the respective handles 5 and 102 at equal chest height when the biceps are strongest at an ergonomic right angle, when tipping the contents 9 of the wheelbarrow cart 100 into a dumpster 53. If the handles 5 and 102 were much higher than the top of the bin 3 of the wheelbarrow cart, then the users would have to uncomfortably extend the users' arms over the users' respective head areas, so that the top of the bin 3 was at the height level of the top of the raised collection receptacle, such as dumpster 53. By equalizing the height of the front and rear handles, this adds to user safety, because it enables the two lifters to lift the wheelbarrow 100 under equal lifting forces, thereby preventing one or both of the lifters from slipping and falling during the lifting process.

FIG. 6 shows workman 50 lifting a plywood panel 130 as grasped vertically by quick disconnect handle 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates the use of handle 102 in grasping and moving a tabletop 134 horizontally.

In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims. 

A complete listing of the claims and their current status is as follows:
 1. A method of carrying large, flat planar objects, comprising the steps of: providing a pair of quick disconnect clamps having a ratcheting mechanism which reduces hand force to achieve clamping pressure and a quick-release lever, attaching a respective quick disconnect clamp and a second quick disconnect clamp to an elongated handle rod at respective opposite ends thereof; engaging and grasping a flat surface panel with each of said quick disconnect clamps, whereby said elongated handle rod provides an elongated gripping surface for lifting said large, flat surface panel by said elongated handle rod and said pair of oppositely positioned quick disconnect clamps, and moving said flat planar object with said elongated handle rod and said pair of quick connect/disconnect clamps.
 2. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, further comprising the step of alternately expanding or contracting a predetermined length of said handle rod by turning a twist-lock sleeve at its center to facilitate length adjustment.
 3. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, further comprising the step of providing each said quick disconnect clamp with quick release levers and releasing respective clamping pads from said flat panel surface upon manual squeezing thereof.
 4. The method of claim 3 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, further comprising the step of providing a height adjustment means, including a rotatable angled handle rod extension member attachable to said elongated handle rod; said rotatable handle rod extension member being rotatable up or down; and providing each said clamp with a further elongated clamp handle with an end having a fixed ratchet member matching with a matching rotatable ratchet member, attached to each end of said rotatable angled rod extension member handle, and locking said rotatable angled rod extension in any position of rotation via a locking knob.
 5. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, wherein said flat surface panel is a building construction panel graspable vertically or horizontally or any angle therebetween by said auxiliary removable attachment handle.
 6. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, wherein said large, flat planar object is a plywood panel.
 7. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, wherein said large, flat planar object is a drywall panel.
 8. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, wherein said large, flat planar object is a door.
 9. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of carrying large, flat planar objects, wherein said large, flat planar object is a table-top.
 10. A method of carrying large, flat planar objects, comprising the steps of: providing a pair of quick connect/disconnect clamps at opposite ends of an elongated handle rod; connecting each said quick-disconnect handle with a rod attachment at a respective distal end thereof; grasping said large, flat planar object with respective clamping pads attached to each respective quick connect/disconnect clamp; adjusting the height of said handle rod with a means for height adjustment of said handle rod, by providing each respective end of said handle rod with a rotatable angled rod extensions rotatable up or down; engaging a matching rotatable ratchet member attached to each respective opposite end of each said handle rod extension; and said rotatable locking ratchet member in any position of rotation via a locking knob; adjusting a length of said elongated handle rod by providing said handle rod in two parts attached with a twist-lock sleeve at its center to facilitate length adjustment; and, moving said large, flat planar object with said elongated handle rod and said pair of quick connect/disconnect handles. 